TOMS RIVER – Richie Sambora, who made a brief appearance at a heroin awareness forum last year, is returning to Ocean County, this time as a headliner to combat opiate abuse.

The musician best known as the talkboxing guitar player for the Bon Jovi rock band is scheduled to perform at a drug awareness forum in Toms River, where he will unveil a new song written specifically for the event. The forum, hosted by the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office, is targeted to combat the area's heroin and prescription painkiller crisis.

Sambora, who is on leave from Bon Jovi, became a surprising ally in prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato's fight against the abuse late last year.

At the end of one of the prosecutor's forums in Stafford in December, Sambora emerged from behind a red curtain and shook hands with Coronato and signed autographs for well-wishes, but then quickly retreated without saying a word publicly. Then he flew home to Los Angeles, leaving his future role in combating drug abuse a mystery.

But now it is clear that the wasn't a one-off for the cameras.

"This guy is bringing in his band," Coronato said. "This is an event."

Coronato added that working out the details of the partnership with Sambora has been difficult because the two are on opposite coasts, among other factors. Recalling the time immediately following the December forum, Coronato said, "Everybody's in hyper mode, and as much as I want to be in hyper mode, I'm in government, and nothing happens quickly in government."

Sambora, who grew up in Woodbridge and once owned a home in Rumson, quietly returned to the fold in recent months. In a strong push to connect and engage with the public, the Prosecutor's Office has launched a series of videos on its new website. In one, titled "Right Turns," about a teenager selling his parents' prescription painkillers, Sambora introduces the video, saying, "Life is precious and we need to save some lives."

Sambora knows from experience. He has acknowledged past abuse of prescription painkillers and alcohol, but denied allegations last year that he left Bon Jovi because of substance abuse.

He has been active off the stadium circuit he is used to after 30 years playing with Bon Jovi. He performed at the Kentucky Derby two weeks ago, and has been touring overseas in support of his latest record, "Aftermath of the Lowdown."

Sambora could not be reached for comment.

Dustin Racioppi: 732-643-4028; dracioppi@app.com

The Ocean County Prosecutor's Office, along with the DART Coalition of Ocean County, will hold a drug awareness forum from 5 to 9 p.m., May 27, at Pine Belt Arena in Toms River. Registration is required. For more information, visit instituteforprevention.com/dart, or call 732-886-4757.